This page contains answers to common questions about rheumatic conditions and treatment. If you need further assistance please phone our advice line on 01473 703315. As there are a large number of questions on this page you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Rheumatology FAQs

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I have an infection and am taking antibiotics - should I stop taking my other medications?

Ordinarily you would not need to stop your disease-modifying treatment whilst taking antibiotics. If you are taking methotrexate, however, we would usually advise you to omit this if you develop an infection, since its immunosuppressive effects may hinder your recovery. You should not take adalimumab (Humira) or etanercept (Enbrel) if you are unwell and should notify the rheumatology team if your illness persists for more than a week and/or requires antibiotic treatment.